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Francesca Stavrakopoulou

Michael Berkeley’s guest is Bible scholar Francesca Stavrakopoulou. With music by Tallis, Beethoven, Elgar and Handel.

Francesca Stavrakopoulou is fascinated by the Bible, and she’s a leading scholar of those ancient texts which have so profoundly shaped how we see the world. She’s Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter; she’s also a convinced and passionate atheist. She is the author of several books about the Bible, and her most recent is her most daring: called “God: An Anatomy”, it draws on the Bible to describe the body of God, from head to foot, in a way she herself describes as “very controversial”.

In conversation with Michael Berkeley, Francesca talks about how her early fascination with Greek gods has inspired her to think differently about the God of the Bible. She talks movingly too about her partner, who served as a marine in Afghanistan, and how difficult it is to adjust to life after the army.

Music choices include Tallis, Beethoven, Elgar, and Handel’s portrayal of her favourite Biblical heroine, Athalia.

Produced by Elizabeth Burke
A Loftus Media production for ѿý Radio 3

Available now

36 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Sep 2021 12:00

Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    My vengeance awakes me (Athalia)

    Singer: Elisabeth Scholl. Orchestra: Barockorchester Frankfurt. Conductor: Joachim Carlos Martini.
  • Billy Joel

    This Night

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata in C minor, Op.13 (Pathetique)(2nd mvt: Adagio Cantabile)

    Performer: Igor Levit.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Bacchanale (Samson and Delilah)

    Orchestra: Utah Symphony. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
  • Kinan Abou-afach

    Petra I

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem in alium

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Conductor: Robert Hollingworth.
  • Edward Elgar

    Nimrod (Enigma Variations)

    Orchestra: West–Eastern Divan Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
  • Steve Reich

    Tehillim

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Choir: Synergy Vocals. Conductor: Stefan Asbury.

Broadcast

  • Sun 19 Sep 2021 12:00

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